teenagersfaq-blog - Tumblr blog

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Hi! I saw that you recently posted an FAQ regarding academic materials for the start of the school year. I'm a HS student and I recently developed an app called NoteSnap that helps students keep their notes organized, share them easily, and connect with students in their classrooms. You can download the app for iOS in the App Store. I'd love your feedback and/or the feedback of your followers! Thanks for your support!

let's keep in contact and see what we can do

[teenagersfaq-blog]

In the movies section you should add Boyhood since we're teenagers we could easily relate with the character plus it's a really good movie

Will do!

[teenagersfaq-blog]

The /r/teenagers FAQ Academic Resource Masterpost

  This masterpost has links for various academic content, from studying to homework help to assistance on assignments.

  As this is 12 pages long, we would say that the “Ctrl + F” keyboard shortcut is your friend.

  If you have a link that’s not here (we’re in need of links for the non-American and IB sections), the link given is now behind a paywall (aka you have to pay to see everything) or any of the links are broken, please send a message to the /r/teenagers FAQ ask box.

  Enjoy!

Non-Academic (but useful teenager advice):

Life advice - remember to click the 3x3 box icon in the top right for them!

When you should sleep and wake up

Enhancing your ramen

  General:

  Studying

Studying for a long time without getting bored

Memrise - mainly used for foreign languages, but can be used for other academic and non-academic courses.

Adapting your study methods to your learning style

Studying like a college/university student

Memorizing vocabulary lists (English and foreign language)

Pulling an all-nighter

How to study?

Stuff you should be eating/drinking while studying

  Resources

TED-Ed Lessons - Interactive lessons

How to google effectively infographic - An infographic with tips on how to research effectively using google and other google tools

Wikipedia - the FAQ recommends that you only use the sources at the end of the page and use it in your bibliography, if your school prohibits it in assignments

Wikipedia alternative

Practice exams for US, British, Irish, Australian, Singaporean and IB students.

Virtual flash card maker

Academic Google Search

Program where you can read text fast (aka speed reading)

Self-motivated courses

  Video Lessons/Tutorials

Khan Academy - variety of academic subjects and test preparations

Crash Course - history (world + US), biology, chemistry, literature, ecology, psychology

Brightstorm - videos on math, sciences (physics, chem, bio), English and test prep.

bozemanscience - tutorials for sciences (both regular and AP)

  Applications

Digital planner with reminders for schoolwork

Simple anti-procrastination timer (Windows only)

Another downloadable flash card program - with premade decks!

Google Drive - Dropbox and MS Word rolled into one (with collaboration option)

Note Taking and archiving software

Free alternative to Powerpoint

Free alternative to MS Word

Self-control application (with a similar Mac version)

  Books

Google Books

Project Gutenberg

ReadAnyBook

Tuebl

/r/FreeEBOOKS

OpenCulture Textbooks

  Notes and Study Guides

AP Course Notes - free, but requires you to submit stuff to access the “premium content” section (wow)

Notes which covers natural sciences, social studies (history, geography, government, biographies), culture (both national and pop) and other non-academic content

Study guides for plenty of subjects - also includes test prep (SAT, ACT, AP), essay guides and a few Spanish literature analysis guides.

AP Euro and US History notes

  English/Language Arts:

  Poetry

Poetic Devices

Types of poetry

Writing your own poem

Rhyming dictionary

  Creative Writing

Writing short stories

Writing longer stories (especially a novel)

Writing a descriptive paragraph

About cliches

When you can’t find the word you need

An informal website about tropes you can use in your writing - may trap you for hours, especially if you have a tabbed browser!

  Essays

Writing a good essay with less pain, stress and tears

Using quotations in your essay

Check your work for plagiarism!

Formatting tips for various papers

A step-by-step guide for writing essays

  Literary Analysis

A general guide for reading and analyzing literature

Sparknotes

GradeSaver - has some books SparkNotes doesn’t cover (and vice-versa)

CliffsNotes

  Citations

BibMe

EasyBib

NoodleTools

CitationMachine

  Mathematics:

  General:

Math tutorials for middle and high school students

Equation solving engine

Scientific calculator for your phone (iOS and Android) using your handwriting

Mathway - Equation solver, but you’ll need to pay to see the full steps (wow)

Answers for your math/science textbooks - Your grade will go up but you will not learn much from your classes (use at your own risk!)

Tool for helping you understand math (from elementary school to university)

Free math lessons and calculators (algebra, geometry, trig, calculus, statistics)

Pre-algebra, Algebra (I and 2) and Geometry lessons

Math worksheets (although it has a paywall for the full software)

Tutorials on algebra, geometry and trig.

Tutorials, worksheets and help for the math section of standardized tests

  Algebra

Algebra homework help

Algebra I/II help and solver

  Geometry

Standard position and reference angles

Formula sheet

Geometry glossary

  Trigonometry

Trigonometry calculator

Trigonometric ratios (SOHCAHTOA)

The Sine and Cosine Laws

Trigonometry help

  Pre-Calculus and Calculus

Solutions for any odd numbered answers of the Ron Larson textbooks

Vector Calculus study guide

Online graphing calculator

  Consumer Math

Math subjects involving various percentages

Consumer math website - covers things like buying a house or a car, income, investment, etc.

Managing a credit card

Setting up a budget/managing your money

Sciences (because science!):

  Biology:

  General

Biology wiki - can be used as a textbook alternative

The Biology Corner - articles about anatomy, organisms and physics

Biology Junction - information about studying, Bio I and II and science fairs

Online high school biology textbook

AP Biology notes

Regular biology notes

Notes on the classification of living things

  Evolution

Understanding evolution

Natural Selection

  Microscopic Organisms

Microscopic organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa, etc)

Bacteria

Cells

  Genetics

About DNA

What is RNA?

Gregor Mendel’s pea experiments

  Animals

Animal Encyclopedia

Zoology notes

About vertebrates

Invertebrates

Animal cells

  Botany

Anatomy of a plant

Plant tissue systems

Chloroplasts

Plant cells

Xylem

About Algae

Photosynthesis cycle

  Anatomy

Virtual human anatomy website

  Chemistry:

  General:

Canadian website which covers most of the concepts in the American chemistry curriculum

Chemistry wiki which can be used as a textbook alternative

Periodic Table

Now with a song!

Resource PDF for atomic masses, ions, solubility of compounds (in water and common constants, Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases, indicators and standard reduction potentials

Chemistry lecture notes

AP Chemistry notes

Looking for a challenge? - past exams on high school chemistry (some easy, some tough), with the occasional one that may not be covered in your school.

  Physical/Nuclear Chemistry

The Atomic Theory - a comparison between the different scientists

Polar Bonds

Lewis Dot Diagrams

Drawing Bohr Models

  Acids/Bases

General (Arrhenius)

About buffers

Calculating pH and pOH

Titrations

Titration curves

The Henderson-Hasselbach equation

  Equilibrium:

Le Chatelier’s Principle

Dynamic Equilibrium

Equilibrium problems

  Kinetics:

Speeding up reaction rates (hint: do the opposite to slow reaction rates)

Collision Theory

Reaction Mechanisms

  Stoichiometry (also includes the mole concept):

Calculating Molar Mass (excuse the Comic Sans)

Converting between molar mass, mass, moles, and gases at STP

Chemical stoichiometry, also covers balancing equations and limiting/excess reagents

Balancing Equations

Theoretical Value/Actual Value

Empirical and Molecular formula

Molarity

The Gas Laws

  Solutions and Solubility:

Ion concentration

Types of solutions

Predicting precipitates

  Electrochemistry

Oxidization and Reduction Numbers

Balancing Redox reactions

Redox titrations

Standard Reaction Potentials

Galvanic Cells

  Organic Chemistry

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

Alkalines and nomenclature

Organic Chemistry notes

  Physics:

  General:

AP Physics notes (although this is based in British Columbia, the Physics 11/12 curriculum is equivalent to 1 year of American Physics)

Physics wiki

Tutorials and exercises

Study Guide

Social Studies:

  American History

  Notes

AP US History Notes

Another AP US History note alternative

  Concepts

American Colonies

The American Revolution

The War of 1812

The Antebellum years

The Manifest Destiny

The Civil War

Slavery

The Jim Crow Laws

America’s role in World War 1

The Great Depression

America’s role in World War 2

The Cold War (American POV)

The Civil Rights Movement

American History archive

  World History

AP World History Notes

History podcasts (there’s more, but it’s behind a paywall)

  European History

AP European History Notes (with some American History notes as well)

Study Guide

Practice Exam

  Government

The American government

AP American Government notes

The Constitution

  Geography

Interactive geography website with plenty of quizzes and material

Foreign Language:

  General:

Foreign Language Dictionary

Translator - good for translating stuff but not 100% accurate. Use at your own risk as the FAQ department is not liable for failed/poor marks obtained from using this translator.

Learn a language or use it for review (only available for French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish and Danish)

Have people correct your language for free

Language resources for around 40 languages

The same language resources used to train American diplomats

  French:

Spelling and grammar checker

/r/frenchhelp

/r/french

French database

  Spanish:

/r/spanish

/r/learnspanish

Spanish grammar, vocab and culture

Verb conjugator

Learning Spanish from scratch

Study Guide

  German:

/r/German

Vocabulary builder

Grammar, verbs, pronunciation and other resources

  Latin:

/r/latin

Dictionary and translation aid

Word list

Conjugator

  Mandarin Chinese:

Duolingo clone for iOS, but helps you with your pinyin and characters in addition to the normal features.

/r/chinese

/r/chineselanguage

  Japanese:

/r/learnjapanese

Hiragana mnemonics

Gamified Kana learning

Learning the grammar

Kanji dictionary

  Other languages:

Is it “de” or “het”? (Dutch)

Language learning podcast (Welsh, but has lessons in Spanish, Dutch, Cornish and Latin)

  Resources for Canadian teens:

  Government exams (British Columbia)

Past provincials and resource exams

Although the government phased the Grade 12 exams (sans English 12) out a few years ago, the past exams are useful for those reviewing concepts in their Grade 12 year. It also works with the IB curriculum (SL) and some of the second semester concepts. Here’s some for Physics 12, Chemistry 12, History 12 (modern history from a global perspective) and Biology 12 (human body),

Using a vernier caliper - there’s at least one question asking about it on the FM/PC 10 provincials

General

Practice exams for those living in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario

  Canadian Social Studies (History and Government)

Canadian Explorers

The Fur Trade

The First Nations people

War of 1812 digital graphic novel (also available for iOS and Android)

The Rebellions of 1837

The British North America Act

Canada goes West (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba)

The CPR Railway (British Columbia)

The Chinese and British Columbia

Canada’s role during World War 1

Canada’s steps to autonomy

Canada goes to war...again!

The Canadian Government

How is a bill passed in the Parliament?

  Canadian Science Courses

Old science provincial exams for practice from the early 2000s that can be can be completed online (British Columbia)

Science 8 resources and quizzes (British Columbia)

Science 8, 9 and 10 resources - if your school uses BC Science as their main textbooks for any of the Science 8-10 courses, ask your science teacher for your school’s login details for the site. If they provide it, you’ll get access to a

  Resources for British teens

  Exam Boards

AQA

OCR

Edexcel

WJEC

CCEA

  General

British website for study resources - good for making flashcards and revisions, also useful for those in the GCSE, A-Level and IB programs. Also useful for those not taking them as well.

British history site

Website to review GCSE concepts

  Resources for those in the IB program (SL and HL)

  Examinations

Examination samples provided by International Baccalaureate

  Notes

SL and HL Chemistry

SL and HL Biology

  Theory of Knowledge

Writing a TOK essay

Presenting your TOK

  CAS

Reflecting and Evaluation

Sample CAS Reflection

CAS Ideas

  Credits:

FAQ Department members involved in this project:

MishieruChan (person who came up with the concept and sacrificed hours of sleep to search the web for links that would belong here),

asdd1937 (included resources for Canadian science courses and Googling better, made a post which recruited people to submit links to this masterpost),

lady-of-lavender (included resources for British exams)

  Special thanks to:

Everyone who contributed links to asdd1937’s post (Glintwolf, ElGatoGuapo, doctordanascully, BadWolf100, dvnear, LesFirewall, Nothing2Personal, greeneggsandhamsam, Lead_Dragon)

SecretlyCarl for making an earlier post about study resources, and allowing me to use the resources he has collected from other Redditors (Newphoneo, ZeeTeeOh, playerplay, LohoPanda, Worra2575, BreakingReality, Miss_nuts_a_bit, zack77070, TimTheTruck, BigCoop97, theMTNdewd, not_dead_yet_fred, rach_atl)

And of course, you for reading this.

[teenagersfaq-blog]

faq:

Q: do u have a faq? A: yes

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Motivation for the new school year

/u/Novandora

Every teenager feels pressured and scared. Trust me I've gone through high school like all of you at some point will. Sometimes you'll feel sad, defeated, and that nobody cares. There will be times where you won't know who to turn to because your trust has been broken and everyone seems distant. You won't want to face your fears, cause sometimes they just bring you to tears. You'll get your heart broken at some point, but that is part of life. Studying might seem impossible, procrastination won't help, tests might be hard, but I dare you to socially and academically excel and surpass your peers.

School is not hard. You may want help, and if you do, WHO CARES IF YOU ASK? Seriously I cannot stress enough how important education is. Do your homework, study for ONE HOUR for tests at least. If you claim to "Not have time." You seriously have to rethink your social priorities. There comes a line when social activity becomes an impediment upon your education and willingness to succeed because your friends make you happy. In other words, do not let your friends or any aspect outside of school dictate how well you perform academically.

Again I reiterate, if you need help, ask your teacher. If you do not understand, say so. Ask your teacher to help you work through a problem so you can understand the material. Here's what happens if you don't: You will not understand the issue, not reflect upon why you don't, and never find out why you don't understand. That leaves the education pointless. You may feel like your teachers don't care, but I ask you this. If they didn't care about their student's education, why did they become a teacher in the first place? They do NOT get paid well for what they deal with, and personally I believe teachers are some of the most selfless people I have known. They want you to succeed and go far in life. They want you to understand the material and care about how you perform.

If you feel like you're being judged at any moment, for any aspect of who you are or what you do, remember this: Nobody's opinion but your own matters when it comes to you. I've been in situations where I will change what I feel, want, or do, simply because I was being aware of what other's thought about me. THINK FOR YOURSELF. I know that in this world it is hard to form your own set of morals and figure out what is best for you. Do not rely on others to aid you in figuring those out. Yes, I will say other people can certainly provide insight on what's best, but when push comes to shove you have to decide for yourself.

None of this is scary, it's not meant to be. You are a teenager just like everyone else.

I'll end with a poem.

When you feel Depressed, Sad, or Lonely Remember that you are NOT the "One and Only" When you feel under Appreciated Some day all of your problems will be Alleviated

You'll get bullied and feel Defeated Don't let this make you Conceited All sad emotion will get Retreated Some day you'll feel Undefeated

When you feel lost, with nowhere to Go Don't be weak, do not Lie Low You are growing up to be Strong Some day you may have your own Theme Song

High school might look like a Challenge Intimidation might look like a Giant Nothing rhymes with Challenge... Some day these bullies will be your Client

You'll find a group of friends that like You Maybe even a very special girl or boy or Two There will be a person that will always Come Through I dare you. Make that person YOU.

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Dating - FOR GUYS

When it comes to dating the ways guys approach it is slightly different to girls. Guys often have to take a bit more initiative, and not all of us are naturally as good at talking/judging/being chill. So here are a few tips on the different areas that appear in a dating environment.

Read More

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Reddit 101

This is taken from the reddit wide "reddit 101" guide which teaches new users about the basics of reddit.

What is reddit, really?

Don't think of reddit as one giant community. This site is made up of "sub"reddits, which are all their own communities. Every single post you see on this site belongs to its own community, with its own set of users, and with its own set of rules. reddit provides you an easy-to-use interface for managing what posts you see by letting you subscribe or unsubscribe from certain subreddits.

By making an account, you are automatically subscribed to a set of "default" subreddits which are a set of highly popular communities that the administrators of this site feel would give the average person an interesting first experience.

Don't like one or more of these default subreddits? Use the "unsubscribe" button on the sidebar, and start customizing your reddit front page! Find subreddits that interest you. Many subreddits feature lists of "similar subreddits" that will help you find other awesome places to subscribe to. Looking for a subreddit but you just don't know its name? Try /r/findareddit! Finally, try setting up a multi-reddit to categorize your subreddit list even further!

Tips for your account.

See and change your preferences. Customize how many comments show up, what kind of posts  show up, and more!

Verify your e-mail. If you don't do this and you lose your password, you will have no way to log back onto that account. Ever. Please do this!

Karma is a point system that lets you know how your submissions or comments are doing. The more karma your post has, the more people have upvoted it. Generally a higher karma count on a post means that the community of that subreddit found your post valuable and interesting. Your karma is logged on your user page on the top right. Please note that self-posts earn you no karma. Only comments and link-posts do.

What is the sidebar?

The "sidebar" is the list of information pertaining to a specific subreddit. At the top you will find a link to submit a post and a link to search the subreddit. It also contains the link to "subscribe/unsubscribe" from that subreddit. Underneath that it generally lists the rules, guidelines, relevant information, similar subreddits, etc.

Note: many mobile reddit apps require you to press a certain button for the sidebar to show up. Every subreddit has a sidebar. Please don't forget to look for it even if your app doesn't immediately show it! Here's an image showing where to find it on common reddit apps. 

You should always read the sidebar before submitting a post to any subreddit, and if you don't understand a rule message the moderators to ask. This ensures that your post stays on the subreddit, as rule-breaking posts will likely be removed.

Have a question about a submission to a particular subreddit? Ask the moderators there! Here's an image  that shows you where you can typically find the link to message the mods.

Who are moderators? What do they do?

Each subreddit is a community with its own focus. The mods are volunteers who ensure the subreddit stays true to its purpose by enforcing set rules. For example, /r/android is a subreddit dedicated to discussion of the Android operating system. Anything not directly related to Android is removed by its moderators. Similarly, /r/apple is a subreddit dedicated to discussing Apple and its products.

Moderators have the power to approve or remove any comments or submissions made to only the subreddits they moderate. They can also issue a ban for users on their subreddit. Moderators enforce the rules laid out in the sidebar, so if you follow all the rules in the sidebar you should be good!

Who are admins? What do they do?

Meet the admins. The admins are like super-moderators. They have all the abilities of moderators across every subreddit plus more. They are paid employees of the site and they ensure that the site runs smoothly for all users.

The admins are generally hands-off when it comes to individual subreddits, letting the moderators and the community decide how its run. However, the admins will enforce the rules of reddit on every subreddit. Be familiar with these rules. Failure to follow these rules may earn you a sitewide ban, or the closing down of a subreddit.

What is reddiquette?

reddiquette is an informal set of guidelines to follow before commenting or submitting on reddit. As reddit has grown, certain behaviors have been frowned upon and other behaviors have been encouraged. reddiquette spells out these behaviors so you aren't left wondering why your posts aren't well-received. You might not be banned not following reddiquette, but you will probably be showered in downvotes if you don't.

Help! What happened to my post?

reddit is a huge forum with millions of users. Many posts are made here every day. Many, many posts are made with the intention to spam or harass other users. Other posts just don't fit the subreddit. Moderators have to filter through these posts every day to ensure their subreddit stays on topic and free of hostility. Some moderators use bots to help them report posts, some moderators do it all themselves. Every subreddit is different. If you find your post not showing up in the subreddit, your best bet is to ask the moderators there why it's not showing up. Please note: when you message the moderators, ALL moderators can read it! It's a shared inbox!

I can still see my post but others say they can't? Nothing is really removed from reddit, if a mod removes something it is de-listed for others to see. You can still see it with a direct link.

My post was removed because it was spam? What gives? Spam is a tricky subject, reddit has several base rules but much of it is left for moderators to decide. reddit's FAQ has a good section explaining it.

I have a great idea for a subreddit!

Awesome! Message the moderators [RES ignored duplicate image][18] so you can talk to them

I have a great idea for reddit as a site!

Awesome too! Post it in /r/ideasfortheadmins

What if I don't like the moderators or how the subreddit is run?

That's okay, reddit was built to handle just that! First though, make sure that you talk to the moderators of that subreddit just to be sure there aren't any misunderstandings, or if you can't just compromise. Otherwise, make your own community! Here is an excellent guide for starting and moderating your own subreddit.

Moderators are people, too, so if you want your voice heard consider messaging them politely with your concerns. We care about the communities we help run and would hate to see users leave because of something that we can help fix!

What if I need help with something else?

Try /r/help for general help on reddit. /r/askmoderators can also help you out if you need to ask mods about anything.

I think I found a bug.

Uh oh. If you are using an application or extension, most have a subreddit you can post in! (/r/RESIssues, /r/alienblue, /r/redditisfun). If you found a bug with reddit itself, post it to /r/bugs (more serious issues should be sent directly to the reddit security team: see the /r/bugs sidebar for contact information.)

Other Subreddits of Note

Other good subreddits to check out for help with various topics are /r/Modhelp , /r/Modnews ,/r/ChangeLog , /r/Blog , and /r/Announcements .

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Guys: Steps to make to be attractive and confident.

peensofthebonage

  If you put zero effort into how you look, you probably aren't attractive. And even if you are attractive, you could look better with just a bit more effort. This is a guide for guys as to how you can make changes to make yourself more attractive, and confident as a result

General

Shower once a day, please. Wash your hair (or /r/nopoo if you want, but that's not for me) and the rest of your body and use a good body wash! There’s plenty of options, so look for yourself and find a body wash that suits you; also remember that you can use cologne on after you shower. Also, DEODORANT PLEASE. But with these remember don’t make any scent overbearing, or it won’t be appealing at all.

Your Teeth

Brush them, twice a day. Floss at night, if you floss well there won't really be any point in flossing in the morning. Also, brush your damn tongue! You can use a tongue scraper if you have strong gag reflexes, I still consider it the best thing I've ever bought. Also, Listerine may not clean your teeth as well, but goddamn if it doesn't smell good.

Your Face

Okay, this one's really easy but not many guys put much effort into their face. Use the/r/SkincareAddiction beginner's routine. Seriously, it takes at most five minutes a day and your face will feel fabulous.

Shaving

Most high schoolers can't grow a very good beard, sorry. I’ve seen far too many teenagers try and grow something and end up with a gross, half there mustache.  /r/wicked_edge is a good place to start, but generally a Mach 3 razor and Barbasol will suffice. I'll give you my everyday shave routine:

Hot shower

Wash face with cleanser

Apply shave cream (I use the canned goop, Gillette or Barbasol, and just lather it all over my face. You can create a lather with a brush and a mug, but what I do works just fine for me. YMMV)

Shave with the grain of your hairs

Relather

Shave across the grain of your hairs

Relather

Shave against the grain

Rinse face with cool water

Apply moisturizer

It may take a bit longer at the start, but it gives a much closer and comfortable shave. It also is enjoyable, believe it or not.

Your Hair

Hair can make or break a person. As shallow as it sounds, you know it's true! Wash it at least twice a week (I wash daily, but for some people that isn't optimal) unless you /r/nopoo. As far as styles go, I'll recommend everyone on /r/malehairadvice's haircut: Short on sides, medium/longer on top. Style with American Crew Fiber. It's trending at the moment, and has lots of low maintainance styles: fauxhawks, messy-but-not-messy bedhead, textured fringes, etc. If you need a stronger hold throughout the day, you can use hairspray. Here is a great guide to hairstyles that complement your face shape! Here are two great inspiration albums!

Your Clothes

First and foremost: wear what you want. It may not be popular, but if you want to wear black hoodies with black skintight jeans and skull-and-crossbones Converse, go for it. But make sure it looks good. Make sure it fits and flatters your body. Browse /r/malefashionadvice, but remember if you dress in OCBD's and CDB's everyday you will be considered "tryhard" even if it looks good. I recommend v-neck tees, t-shirts of your favorite bands, sweaters, flannel, Levis 511/514 dark wash jeans, Docker's Alpha slim chinos, plimsolls/canvas shoes, boat shoes espadrillas, and simple Nike running shoes for a basic wardrobe. Also: undershirts are amazing. Get v-necks so you can't see them. The most important thing about how you dress is be confident in how you look; if you’re pulling it off in a way that suits you, people around you will see that confidence.

Glasses

Some people look good in glasses, other people don't. You can probably tell whether or not your glasses are good on you. If they don't, or you're athletic, maybe get contacts. I personally dislike contacts but know many people who swear by them. If they aren't comfortable though or are painful, DO NOT GET THEM! Just about everyone can find a pair of glasses that look good on them. If they do look good on you, read this guide, credit to /r/malefashionadvice. Also, if you want glasses but don't need them, just don't. Many people consider will consider you a "poser". And at some point, someone with glasses will ask to switch to compare vision, which is awkward for everyone involved.

Fitness

This is a biggie! I admittedly am a rail, and need to bulk up more. /r/Fitness, is awesome for bulking up, losing weight, and learning how to diet.  There’s another article on the  FAQ  about it, so check it out. ! Also, if you can't join a gym,/r/bodyweightfitness is great.

  So there’s a heap of things you can do to improve your appearance, but at the same time you have to remember that everyone looks different, but they can all look good. Find what suits you and makes you happy/confident, and rock that.

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Post secondary options

thatonemidget

We’ve all had that conversation, be it among our families or friends: “What are your plans after school?” For some of us, that question is really simple, we can answer with confidence and a smile; others struggle, what am I going to do after school? Should I further my education? If so, how should I do that? What if I wanna specialize, would trade school help? Maybe I should take a year off to figure myself out. What if college just isn’t for me?

Sometimes post secondary education isn’t for all of us, but we’re here to let you know that it isn’t the end of the world if that’s what your choice is! There’s a ton of options, all of which can be tailored to fit you and what plans you have for yourself.

State University

Post secondary, most of us think of a four year university, the kind we see in films. Though films tend to be inaccurate on how your peers will act (not all of them play quidditch or are in an acapella choir) they aren’t too far off on what you need to expect. Shortly after acceptance or you pledging to attend that college, ask you to sign up for Freshman Orientation. Usually a three to five day camp, you’ll be split into groups and given the grand tour by upperclassmen; among what you’ll see can include a club fair, housing, department buildings and your best friend on campus..your academic advisor. Your advisor is practically your lifeline, they’ll tell you how your degree plan will work. Typically a degree plan consists of 120 credit hours; every semester it’s recommended that you take 15 hours to get done in those four years. Each course you sign up for is about 3 credit hours, with science being four because of a separate one hour lab. If you’ve taken AP or college courses (and earned the credit for it) in secondary, you won’t have to take those classes! Additionally, living on campus in your first year is a requirement at most 4 year institutions.

Community College

If you can’t afford to go to a Big State University, you could always attend a community college. Now, contrary to popular belief, this isn’t a bad choice at all. Community colleges offer the same quality of education that universities do, just at a lower price and usually offer an associates degree, but that depends on your specific degree plan. Having a degree from a community college isn’t bad at all, in fact several big name people hold degrees from a community college; Tom Hanks, Calvin Klein, Arthur Goldberg and even Walt Disney were successful with this form of education! Community colleges do hold a huge benefit: You can use them to boost your grades, especially if you didn’t shine through in high school! Attending for a year or two to save money is a common practice, just meet with your academic advisor to see which credits you take will transfer; you should do this before registering for classes!

Trade School

What if you know exactly what you’d wanna do...but its not exactly something you could see yourself going to a university school for? What if it’s a specific skill? Then you should try a Trade school. Otherwise known as a vocational school, these institutions offer in depth classes and hands on experience training in traditional fields such as blacksmiths work, painting, ironworks and carpentry. Traditional stuff not your taste? Trade schools for modern fields exist as well, despite only being introduced in the 20th century. You can now get educated in cosmetics, retail, tourism, culinary arts and even pharmaceuticals. Though some of these trades exists all through the world, trade schools vary from country to country. Application processes are different as are the degree plans. Contact your local trade school for more information!

Gap Year

Now, let’s say that your final year turns into a draining fight with the education. You manage to scrape through midterms and finals, but come graduation day, you’ve been sucked dry of every amount of spirit you had. Try a Gap Year! There’s nothing wrong with taking a year to recover and collect yourself. That burnt out feeling is something everyone feels, some more strongly than others. Before you make this choice and move to run with it, talk to your parents, a school counselor or a trusted adult. If they have experience, who knows if they do, they can definitely help you. This is perfect if you haven’t decided your major, it saves you money and from dragging yourself down further through full-price classes. If you go through with this idea, you need a plan, so try:www.interimprograms.com, www.timeoutassociates.com, www.dynamy.org or www.uncollege.org; all of these websites specialize in planning for a gap year. The most important thing is to keep yourself busy, its easy to lose yourself in relaxation! The advisors on these sites will help you create a schedule to keep your brain in tip-top condition through activities, volunteering and low priced optional courses, on real skills you need!

Other Alternatives

Finally, college or post-secondary education may just not be for you. Is that okay? Yes, it absolutely is! Some people assume financial reasons may cause you to pick that route, but don’t let the scorn deter you: There are many people who can be and are successful without a diploma. Your options here are really unlimited, you can get a job, start up a small business or firm, or possibly enlist in the armed services. If you choose to do the latter, contact your local representative for information on the application process.

If you want some imagery, think of this: Your college options are like a BIG crayon box and your life is the paper you’ll draw on. Even if its not the simplest, neatest and most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen; its personal and its yours. It deserves to be picked and feature everything you want in your future post secondary!

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Time management skills to finish your work

thenewmeredith

We’ve all been there. The constant distractions, an inability to finish your work, the lack of organization. As Eminem so eloquently describes,”you lose yourself in the moment.” But we also have all faced deadlines and, unfortunately, they don’t go away if you procrastinate enough. So, how can you get all of your work done on time and manage to have some inkling of a life? To quote further, “you better own it” and here’s exactly how.

To begin, we have some methods for reminding yourself of what is a priority that may jump out to you more so than simply attempting to remember the task.

The Post-It Method

This works especially well for laptop users but also can be used on desktops and mirrors. Whenever you are assigned something, write it on a post-it. The difference between this and writing it on a paper somewhere is that you can be both visually and physically reminded. As you often as looking at eye level, the bright color of the post-it is an angry reminder that you’re not doing what you’re supposed to. But, this works too because you’re much more likely to bump into the tiny note and thus become more inclined to initiate the task due to this annoying warning.

  The Constant Reminder Method

This one is a bit less aggressive as you can make it fun for yourself. In itself, it is pretty self-explanatory; you set an alarm or calendar task on your device of choice and make sure it repeats until you’ve completed the task. While it can begin to annoy you, that is the point! Make it personal, though, by choosing the ringtone that makes you want to stay on task.

  The Ink Poisoning Method

With this method, depending on your habits, you might be able to get yourself on task even better than the similar Post-It Method. Yes, your mom also might hate me but what the idea here is is to write on your body, most likely your hand, but where you’ll see it, the thing you need to do next. Seeing it often enough is a great reminder that you be off task and not being productive.

  Besides simply reminding yourself what needs to get done, you need to actually prioritize these tasks first. The best way to do this is look at everything you have to do, ideally every day, and decide what needs to get done immediately and what can wait. If you have an assignment due tomorrow, don’t bother trying to motivate yourself to start a project due next month. This should come as common sense, yet sometimes we fail to think of it which can lead to not being able to manage your time.

Additionally, spreading your tasks around is one of the best things you can do to save time. This means starting as early as possible and breaking a large task into a smaller one that can be done every day to make it seem much more manageable. Attempting to finish an entire project in a day, while it might be possible, is not ideal and is completely avoidable.

Look at your assignments. Figure out how much time you know you will need to do it. By doing this, you can plan your entire day from when you get home and therefore make time for other parts of your life.

  In the end, a balance of school, work, and a social life is possible for everyone and all it takes is basic planning skills and the reminder to stay with that plan. And, remember, as the great Eminem would say,“you’ve only got one shot, do not miss your chance...”

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Dating - FOR GUYS

ManPris

When it comes to dating the ways guys approach it is slightly different to girls. Guys often have to take a bit more initiative, and not all of us are naturally as good at talking/judging/being chill. So here are a few tips on the different areas that appear in a dating environment.

Read More

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Managing your money

thenewmeredith

Being a teenager isn’t cheap. I think we can all relate to that, and certainly, we have all wanted to buy something that was out of our price range. Having any source of income can be great but often it’s hard to hold onto the money. However, there are a few simple changes you can take to make that money go further. Let’s talk about it in two parts- saving for something and basic budgeting- using some very relatable and handy examples.

Saving For A Big Ticket Item

  Before you even begin to save in any capacity, you’re gonna want to make sure you understand that money truly doesn’t grow on trees. No matter how much you save, it’s only gonna grow so fast. Don’t expect to be able to buy a new car within a few months because your mom gives you a 20 every weekend.

The next step here is finding out exactly how much you need to save. If the shoes you so desperately desire cost $250, check to make sure that’s the best price you’re going to get and then apply taxes. On top of that, it’s a good idea to have a few dollars more. So if your state taxes 7% on all sales, then rather than save exactly $267.50, round up to at least $270 to account for anything extra that you are forgetting. This is especially important on items like cars and computers that have fees and accessories. In addition, this rounding may make it easier to do the next step.  

Look at how much you expect to make in the coming months. After you spend your normal expenses, ask yourself what an amount you can save each month is. If you get paid every weekend, for example, $30, how much of that $120 a month do you think you can say you don’t need to spend right away. This is talked about further below, but you need to be reasonable.

Make a chart or plan of some sort that you will understand and stick to. Going back to the example, if you decide to save 40% of your monthly income-$48 to the shoe fund-you’ll have the money and extra for the shoes in 6 months. This is a goal. It’s something you see and say, on this day 6 months from now that thing I want will be mine and I don’t have to even do that much to get it.

Put the money, somewhere, anywhere and DON’T touch it. Sure, you could take all of your money that month and wait not even 3 months have the shoes in less than half of the time you could wait but the difference here is what you’re giving up to do it. Do you need gas for your car? Want to go to the movies? Buy even a few things at school? You can’t do any of those things, but hey, at least those shoes look nice when you’re walking home in them. Waiting is the hardest part but if you aren’t interested or able to change your monthly income, it’s the safer option.

  Budgeting Your Money

  Congrats, you just got your first job as a cashier at Arby’s. Sure you’re making minimum wage, but you’re making money and you can finally buy anything you want. But wait, what do you when you get that paycheck at the end of the month? Spend it all on Taco Bell and video games? Nope! You have other things to pay for, so you’re gonna budget it! You probably understand a budget at least in some small way, but have you consider your own personal budget as a teenager with nearly completely different expenses from your parents?

First, take a look at your paycheck. Let’s go ahead and round that average $7.25 minimum wage to an even $7 and pretend that extra quarter adds up to your taxes wherever you might live. You work only on weekends for a total of 16 hours in this example. With $448 handed to you every month it might be easy for you to burn it away without thinking because you aren’t keeping track of your money. So the best way to do this is put it in an account of your choice, probably a debit card. Hopefully, you’ll have a better method of tracking with an account through online or mobile banking.  

Next, go ahead and figure out what you’ll spend right away each month. Try to pinpoint something like gas by guesstimating how much you buy every month on average. If you’re filling up every other week for $65, that’s gonna take up a lot right there, but it’s something that’s most likely a necessity. With $318 left, you might think you can’t get a whole lot but that’s not the case.

Another important section in your budget is food. Think about how often you eat out every week. If you’re picking up breakfast every morning on the way to school and then after school yogurt every few days, you’re gonna spend a good chunk of money on food. It can be hard to imagine that even when your parents feed you most meals, that you’ll spend a sizable amount on your own, but those frappuccinos ain’t cheap. For our example, let’s take out $68 for a whole month-or $17 a week-for an even $250 to go.

Next you’ll want to account for entertainment. “What entertainment?” you say as you press next episode on Netflix. Sure, you might not really go out but you might trade that out for video games or apps or music or how ever else you enjoy your time. Whatever it is you do in your spare time that you pay for will add up quickly. So let’s say $75 a month as an average. $175 left but wait have you forgotten--

Clothing. Yes, even you, boy-wearing-same-khakis-from-two-days-ago with-the- weird-stain-on-the-butt. This section will vary a lot, probably the most out of everything, depending on how often you buy clothes and how much you tend to spend. But if you need to, it’s the easiest to cut back on, so it can act as back-up savings when you’re looking to cut down your budget for a big item later. We’ll say that in this example you spend another $75 a month on this. So, what to do with that $100?

Save it of course! Once you’ve thought of everything you pay for every month, you’ll hopefully have money left over. If you’re saving for an item as discussed above, you’ll need to put that away too. Your savings is your safety net. Like before, you DON’T touch your savings! What happens when you need  to pay for something like senior dues and your parents aren’t helping? You don’t want to end up owing anyone money.

So, you’ve got your budget all written up, now what? You stick to it! If you need to make changes, see what you can cut back on. Want to save more each month? Buy less fast food and leggings. Making sacrifices like this is something you’ll deal with as an adult, so preparing for it now will make you better off in the future as much as it will now.

  With a plan in mind, you are well on your way to being an adult. Having your own money is what’s going to make you independent but being able to manage it is what’s going to make you mature.

[teenagersfaq-blog]

For any boys who want help with girls

 keewkrahs202

This guide will cover texting, asking them out and knowing if she likes you.

Should I call/text her?

1) Have you already done it with no response?

If your answer was yes: don't call her. If your answer was no: go for it. Call her. *once*.

Why isn't she responding? There are various reasons why a girl wouldn't respond, but let's narrow it down to two.

1) You're creeping her out.

2) She doesn't want to talk to you. This could mean she's busy, or just uninterested, so she isn't going to respond.

When can I text her again? Not the same day, unless you need to (like for schoolwork or something). Wait a week or so and try again. If she doesn't respond continuously, she doesn't like you.

Red Flag: A girl who expects a guy to text first every time is not worth it, that's a sign that if you start a relationship with her she's gonna be a stuck-up, needy bitch.

It is never okay to send a text along the lines of "you there?" or "please respond". OF COURSE SHE IS THERE.

Should I ask her out?

1) Do you know her?

Yes? See 2 below. No? See 1.5 below.

1.5) Are you really really really attractive?

No? Don't do it.

2) Are you fairly certain she likes you back?

Yes? Do it. No? Wait for more signs.

How do I know if she likes me?

1) She flirts with you. *duh*.

2) She often touches you, like your arm, when you talk

3) She initiates conversations with you

4) She compliments you a lot

5) She fishes for compliments

6) Prolonged eye contact

7) Smiles at you a lot

8) Laughs at your jokes/humor (especially if it isn't funny)

9) Uses your name frequently

note: a girl may do these things and still not like you, it's best to just use your best judgment*

How do I initiate a convo with a girl I've never talked to before?

Try asking her for her number. If best use an excuse like "Can I have your number so I can text you for help on this math homework?" Excuses are your friends.

In person, try asking for directions somewhere or just straight up complimenting her (nothing too creepy now)

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Meeting people at parties/other social gatherings

Humbungala  

I find the easiest place to meet people are social gatherings like parties and festivals. People are there to have a good time, so conversation is welcome from generally anyone and you're less likely to find people who will totally blow you off.

Always introduce yourself. "Hey I'm Humbungala, nice to meet you." Handshake, head nod, do whatever is more accepted in your community. People will reciprocate and say their name. Only a few words and you've already made an acquaintance. Now it’s time for a conversation. If you're at a party and a friend of yours is hosting the party, ask the person you just met how they know the host. They'll tell you and probably ask you the same thing. Answer. Ask them what school they go to, tell them yours. Mention something about their school that they can talk about. "Didnt your school do that cool pep rally music video down the halls?" They'll answer, probably with their feelings on the matter too "Yeah, it was pretty shit though." or sometimes just a simple answer. Mention how you feel about it "It was pretty cool. were you in it?" Casual questions like these will make conversations flow  and it doesn't seem forced.

  If you're at a festival or at another social gathering, refer to the group outing tips. It's the same thing except this time it's less pressure because you're just meeting new people and not trying to talk to your crush.

**How to start texts? How to be a "good" texter?**

  Sometimes certain texting situations are a lost cause. Sometimes people are just shitty texters and no matter what you do they'll constantly forget to reply and a short 10 message exchange will happen over the course of a full day. If you're texting someone who seems generally uninterested then don't force yourself to continue conversation because it probably won't happen. Something I use for shitty texters is if someone replies to my "what's up" in a really boring and uninterested way, I'll say "WELL THAT MUST BE FUN, ILL LEAVE YA TO IT THEN." This is a win-win reply. If they want to talk to you, theyll step up their game and initiate conversation right there. If they don't the conversation will end there without you wasting your time trying to force it.

  If you just received your crush's number or anybody's number for that matter, don't wait too long for them to text you. It could lead to awkward conversations because she may not remember you. Text them when you feel like you should, don't double text, and avoid typical boring text conversations. Don’t be afraid of saying “Good Morning” and “Good Afternoon”. It is stronger than saying "hey" or "hi". For example:  "good morning, whatcha up to? oh wow lucky! I only had cereal this morning :( im too lazy to actually cook a good meal so yeah, I have to settle for cheapy quick food." Your conversation will depend on how your crush replies. Be open minded and interesting. If you feel like conversation is dying, let it die. Give a "anyways I gotta go, talk to ya later" and end it. Text them back a few hours later, that way it gives you both a bunch of time to do shit in between and talk about it.

[teenagersfaq-blog]

How to talk to your crush

 Humbungala  

So you want to talk to this girl/guy, but you don't know how to introduce yourself. In this position, having a mutual friend would help A LOT. If you know a friend who's friends with said crush, ask them to introduce the two of you or get you in a situation where you have an opportunity to speak with said crush yourself. If your friend agrees to do it, it's probably best that it's more of a casual situation like an outing with a group of people rather than a one on one kind of thing, because two people who don't know each other just chilling alone for the first time is going to awkward. I don't care if you're fabio or the sexiest person alive, it will be awkward.

 If you're in a group outing and you want to speak to your crush, try to add things to group conversations yourself. When you talk to a group of people who are a mixture of your friends/strangers, it makes the strangers more comfortable with you, including your crush if she/he is among them. It also shows a bit of confidence, and confidence is attractive. Group conversations never continuously carry throughout a group outing, and it generally leads to several smaller conversations between the people in the group. This is when you start talking to your crush. Talk about whatever you feel is *not* forced. At the movies and watching a movie adaptation of a book? Ask your crush if he/she has read the books. At a festival? Ask if she/he has been before. Promptly reply with your own answer to the question. Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's how you get to know people and that can be a life saver in certain situations. Don't ask too many though, it's not the spanish inquisition and you don't want your crush to feel like he/she is being interrogated for a murder. If the conversation is good, it will flow naturally. If you have something you want to say but are not sure you should say it, say it anyways (as long as it's relevant, interesting, and appropriate). People like hearing interesting things, find a way to insert interesting facts about yourself in a conversation. At the movies watching the hunger games and you've met the author before? Mention you've read the books and went to a signing. Is your crush talking about an aunt or an uncle of theirs that's done or does something interesting? Mention your uncle who travels around the world. Don't be afraid to talk about stuff that relates to you. It provides more conversation and as long as it's not something creepy or inappropriate, it will generate a positive response.

   Don't have a mutual friend with your crush and you literally have no way of talking to him/her? Take initiative and see if you can put yourself in a situation that will give you the opportunity to talk to him/her. Do you know that she/he is in a club that you find even mildly intriguing? Join the club and go from there and if you don't wanna do it alone see if you can get your friends to join with you. Even if you don't do well with your crush, you might have a great time and meet other people from joining it. It's a win-win situation basically. I have a friend who liked a girl who was in a grade below him, and he literally became  best friends with all her friends and eventually her. Sometimes you have to go out of your way based on how much you like this person. And hey, you can great things out of it. Did you talk to your crush once before and it was a long time ago, but you talked enough to add eachother on facebook? What i've done before was send a message to the person saying something random. Not like “LOL I LOVE PICKLES” but something that would seem like it's apart of a conversation. Maybe asking for homework or whatever. Wait for a reply saying "huh?" , or quickly type in yourself saying "whoops, wrong person lol. sorry" or anything along the lines of that. If you haven't been creeping her/him earlier and giving him/her signs that you are interested, then this won't look very forced. (as long as you only do it like once) after whatever your crush replies, ponder as to how you two met. "Didn't we meet at that festival?" or  "weren't you the girl I met when Mrs. Johnson did a stand up comedy act in the cafeteria?" or other things like this casually begins conversation without the person being "creeped" out or weirded out. However, not everyone will take this the same way. Some people will be compliant, and others will give the vibe that they really don't give a shit. Take a risk and do it anyways if you want, and if you see that the person is replying and actually conversing, get creative and continue the conversation! Don't make stuff up though, talk about interesting things that actually happened.

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Preventing acne

kailibee

Acne problems are common for teenagers. A mix of genetics, diet, and bad habits play a role in the condition of your skin. Here we’ll learn how to prevent and hopefully help get rid of any acne you may face currently or in your future.

ACNE PREVENTION:

  Acne may be caused from a number of different variables, such as:

  -Genetics

-Bad skin cleaning habits (Or rather, a lack thereof)

-Makeup

-Excessively touching your face

First of all we want to look at how we can prevent acne from making its debut on your face. There are many small, simple things you can do to prevent acne:

  -Wash your face every morning (before putting on makeup) and night (after taking makeup off). Using a gentle face wash made specifically for this is a good idea, but not necessary. Using a face wash with ‘cleansing beads’ is not recommended as they may actually damage your skin.

  -Change your pillow cover. They can harbour bacteria you’d be sleeping on every night!

  -Avoid touching your face as much as possible. Your hands have been many places during the day, and the oils and germs from them are less than savoury for a clean face.

  -Get a decent amount of sleep.

  -Eat healthy. You are what you eat, and if you give your body fatty foods, it’s going to return the favour!

  -Don’t smoke. This can cause a multitude of other problems as well.

  -Exercise. A good way to flush out and refresh your body.

  -Drink lots of water.

  -Reduce or cut out make up if possible.

GETTING RID OF CURRENT ACNE:

  -Get into the habit of washing your face well.

  -Look into products specially made for reducing acne. A key ingredient common for this is salicylic acid, and is a good indication for a product.

  -See a dermatologist. Especially if you find store bought products not working, a dermatologist may be able to prescribe you stronger stuff, and/or identify habits that you may have that cause acne.

  -Buy products made for your skin type - dry, oily, mixed, normal, etc.

  -DO NOT use any toothpaste/peanut butter tricks you come across. They can dry your skin out.

Popping your pimples is not recommended. You can get acne scars from doing so. If you really have to pop a pimple, remember:

  -Only pop pimples that have come to a white head.

  -Wash your hands well before hand.

  -Clean your skin well, and remove any makeup you may have on.

  -Take a face cloth and soak in warm/hot water. Hold it over the pimple to draw the bacteria to the surface, making it easier to pop.

  -Avoid covering it with any products after, like makeup.

Acne is very common in teenagers. It is very likely that no one will care if you have a pimple or two. Hopefully you can pick up some good habits to keep your skin clean and healthy for your life time. And if necessary, don’t be afraid to talk to a dermatologist- they know skin best and can help you greatly.  

[teenagersfaq-blog]

Divorce

  thenewmeredith

Divorce is hard. This is obvious and it’s not going to be easy. Everyone is probably going through a tough time right now. While we can’t change anything about this unfortunate situation we can tell you some things that are going to make this a little bit easier to handle. Understand that your life is going to change but, in the end, you should be able to come out the same. Again, it’s not going to be easy but you can try to make it not so hard.

Why are they getting a divorce?

There could be loads of reasons. It’s best if you just talk to one or both of them so that you get the truth from them. They may not tell you and that’s okay. It’s between them and even if it does affect you, the reason why shouldn’t. You should still love them no matter what. They love you. Love them even though they’re not together.

But if still want a list of possibilities then here you go:

They don’t love each other anymore

They wanted different things

Those two points are which every other point would boil down to. Those are the simplest of reasons but those are the only two reasons. Anything else is just another form of one or both of those. It’s almost definitely more complicated than just two sentences but at the same time, it is just that.

They still love you.

They always will.

Everything changes. You have to remember that. Two people won’t always feel the same way they do. It’s for the best that this is happening. You can’t change this. You can’t stop it. Just remember: It’s not your fault.

How do I deal with this?

Talk to your friends. To your parents. Teachers. Strangers on the internet. Anyone you feel comfortable to talk to with. They’ll help you through this.

You’ll be feeling sad, angry, maybe even guilty. You may even feel relieved because the fighting has stopped. I don’t know, it differs from person to person. What I do know is that you can’t just bottle up these feelings.

Don’t blame anyone. No one person has caused this. It’s not your fault. It’s not theirs either. It’s no ones. It’s just a thing that happens. I’m sorry.

You may think that they’re breaking up a good thing but if it was such a good thing then why are they breaking up? They made this decision and you just have to live with it. I’m sorry.

How will this affect my life?

This is also different from case to case. A lot of things change.

Moving

Changing schools

Spending time with each of them separately

Depending on how custody arrangements work out. You’ll find yourself living with one parent more than the other but you may still see the other from time to time. Weekends maybe? Christmases or birthdays may alternate between the two.

Money problems may be an issue to. You just have to deal with it and help them through it. Yep, that’s right. They’re struggling this as much, maybe even more so then you are. You have to help each other.

How can I make help make this easier on them (and myself)?

Love

Don’t argue with them. Don’t take sides. No fighting. You can’t influence how they act but you can make their decision easier for them.

Talk

To them. Try and keep in touch. You’ll see them less so just try to keep them in your mind. Drop them a text once and a while just saying “hi, how are you” or something of the likes.

Help

Help them; help yourself. Whether it’s just helping them settle in or dealing with stress. Try and be a team player and be a good child.

Live

Divorce may be the only thing on your mind and that’s not exactly healthy. Go out and live your life. Take your mind off it and get a load off. You may be so caught up in their lives that you’ve forgotten to live your own. Try and stay in your world. Live your life relatively normally. Doing things that are normal and mundane to your life may help you cope with this as it give you a sense of grounding you life. When things like this are changing, it’s good to keep some things the same.

How do I deal with them dating/step-parents and step-siblings?

A big part of the process of divorce is that your parents will probably try to move on with a new life. As much as you may not like it, that often includes finding a new significant other. It can be difficult to see your parents want to find new love but here’s the thing: in their marriage they ended up unhappy in a relationship; they’re looking to be happy again. It’s very important to understand that they are NOT trying to replace your mom or dad, but rather trying to find a person that loves and supports not only them but you. However, you might find yourself not happy with this new person. The best thing to do in this situation is to look at it rationally. What about your parent’s new partner do you not like? Is it something that is going to continue to bother you in the long hall? If this person is largely interfering with your happiness, then talk with your parent about it.

You may be very comfortable with your parents dating and even re-marrying, but sometimes the new additions of siblings can be not-so pleasant. Ideally, this shouldn’t affect your overall well-being. However, new siblings can be a new responsibility, it may not always be easy, but these people are now apart of your family and you have to try to make them feel welcome. Talking, again, is key; speak with the adults if your step-siblings are bothering you in any way. You shouldn’t be afraid to let them know what is and isn’t working for you. All-in-all, acceptance takes time but you will find it.

You can get through this.